Quote:
Originally posted by seretogis
Exactly. The attempt by some of you to link this with the actions of higher-ups is nothing but an attempt at a political jab. If Rumsfeld's policies truly were putting thousands of untrained reservists into jobs they couldn't handle, there would be thousands of screw-ups like this -- not just eight buddies that have a taste for blood.
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Actually, that's what the article, linked by the conservative Matt Druge, said.
Facts from the case so far:
- These guys were reservists
- They didn't receive their supposedly mandatory training in handling prisoners
- Reservists aren't supposed to handle prisoners anyway, only full time soldiers should
Now, these are statements from the defendant's lawyer, so you can choose to believe or not believe them, but I believe they are valid points.
I'm apparently not alone in my beliefs. A quick search:
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ed...nG=Search+News
Turns up this:
http://washingtontimes.com/commentar...5654-4779r.htm
Quote:
Mr. Rumsfeld has no one to blame but himself for the turn of events. Mr. Rumsfeld is a gifted strategist, but as a "cheap hawk" he has been unwilling to commit sufficient resources to ensure success.
Secretary Rumsfeld came into office proclaiming a new paradigm of "decisive warfare" defined as the ability to march on an enemy's capital and overthrow its regime. This paradigm goes beyond the failure of the United States to march on Baghdad in 1991, it is a refutation of the indecisive "limited war" doctrine that led to failure in Vietnam. In carrying out this strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq, Mr. Rumsfeld initially weathered the criticism of retired military officers (serving as outlets for concerns within the high command) that not enough American troops had been sent into action.
Mr. Rumsfeld's glory was but fleeting, as ambushes and terrorist attacks filled the press with stories of American casualties and civil unrest. Though only pinpricks so far, further violence is encouraged by signs of irresolution. Begging the U.N. for help sends a message the United States does not have what it takes to fulfill the leadership role it has assumed.
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And yes, your avatar does make you look smart.
